Special EUNIC Ukraine Fund 2022 supports 15 cultural initiatives across Europe
The Culture of Solidarity Fund Eunic Ukraine edition selected 15 cultural initiatives across Europe to help connecting Ukrainian culture in wider European spheres.
Looking back at the last months, the war in Ukraine has resulted in a heightened solidarity towards Ukraine but also amongst the EU as a community. With Ukraine now confirmed as a EU candidate country, the need to get to know each other emerges even more. To help do so, the recent grant call by the Culture of Solidarity Fund enables the European cultural sector to programme Ukrainian arts and culture.
In September 2022, the Culture of Solidarity Fund - EUNIC Ukraine 2022 launched this special call looking to promote the visibility and embeddedness of Ukrainian Culture across Europe, in partnership with European Cultural Foundation, with funding from several EUNIC members and with core financing led by the Goethe-Institut (currently holding the Presidency of the EUNIC network), and the Institut français and Instituto Cervantes.
The call was open to 54 EUNIC clusters and their local partners, based in any of the 46 Council of Europe Member States. From a total number of 22 eligible applications received, 15 cultural organisations in 13 Council of Europe member states were selected to organise exhibitions, assemblies, film screenings and public lectures. They will receive grants ranging from 10.000 to 25.000 euros to do so. All together these initiatives will help connecting Ukrainian culture across Europe.
Selected projects
'State of emergency'
In Ukraine the 19th international human rights documentary film festival Docudays UA will take place with the title ‘State of emergency’. The festival takes place in Kyiv and around the country, enabling film industry workers to meet and connect, and offer a platform for discussion to audiences.
In Belgium, the Migration Museum will exhibit the artwork ‘One Day More’ by Ukrainian artist Yevgenia Belorusets, representing her war diary, and host several events around it.
'One Day More'
In Belgium, the Migration Museum will exhibit the artwork ‘One Day More’ by Ukrainian artist Yevgenia Belorusets, representing her war diary, and host several events around it.
'Postcards from Ukraine'
The project ‘Postcards from Ukraine‘, an existing idea originally initiated by the Ukrainian Institute in Kyiv is picked up by Czech Centres and will be co-developed in Budapest and Sofia to evolve into a broader platform for Ukrainian arts and photography.
'The world has only one Ukraine'
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden will host an online discussion to revise Ukraine and its place in the Western academic and cultural discourses from a decolonial perspective, for artists, curators and institutions. Additionally they will commission work from Ukrainian artists based in Ukraine to include these works in their exhibition.
'Building Bridges'
The Vytautas Magnus University Centre of Ukraine and partners will organise a series of events under the banner ‘Building Bridges’ to acquaint Ukrainian and Lithuanian communities and to popularise Ukrainian culture in Lithuania, a country which has welcomed many Ukrainian refugees.
'Ukrainian Solidarity Residencies Exhibition'
In Helsinki, an exhibition showcasing the Ukraine Solidarity Residencies artists took place between 4th and 12th of November at HIAP's Gallery Augusta. It included a public programme consisting of Artist Talks, peace building dialogues, live music, and a workshop for children.
'Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Under Threat'
In Athens the Hellenic Foundation for Culture prresents ‘Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Under Threat‘ to attract public attention to the cultural heritage of the Black Sea region by zooming in on Odessa and Mariupol . The Hellenic Foundation for Culture will establish links for future cooperation between Ukrainian institutions and their local counterparts both in Greece and Romania.
'Panelka: High Rise Connecting Conversations'
A vibrant experiential video installation will feature 32 connecting conversations between a high rise neighbourhood in Kyiv and Hastings’ Four Courts high rise community at Hastings’ ExploreTheArch Theatre Company.
'Greener Grass'
Warsaw based Open Place will convene a curatorial group of independent artists and cultural leaders from across Ukraine will organize ‘Greener Grass’, cultivating transborder connections between Ukrainian cultural communities to formulate proposals to be shared with artists, institutions, the Ukrainian government, and potential funders.
'EUNIC for Ukraine – European film week'
Four EUNIC Scotland cluster institutes host film screenings at the different participating institutes. The chosen films have been curated by Ukrainian director Nadia Parfan and are screened in the original version with English subtitles.
'Freedom through the eyes of women artists'
The Czech Center Bratislava, Goethe-Institut Bratislava, Institut français de Slovaquie and Aparát O.Z. organize a public call for artworks to feature at the Bratislava Design Week, under the title ‘Freedom through the eyes of women artists’.
'Chemins d’Ukraine'
The project “Chemins d’Ukraine – les constructions solidaires” offers a series of roundtables on the topic of systemic change through civic and cultural actors and projects. These will take place in partnership with the “Week-end à l’Est” festival in Paris dedicated to Ukraine this year.
'Exile, Artists and Creation - Ukrainian voices'
In a cycle of three evenings the project ‘Exile, Artists and Creation - Ukrainian voices’ connects Ukrainian artists and cultural actors with solidarity initiatives of cultural actors in Madrid.
'Promotion of Intercultural Cooperation'
The NGO “Promotion of Intercultural Cooperation” will finalize their research into the functioning of Ukrainian Studies worldwide and contribute to making them more visible internationally, particularly in Europe. Their project will facilitate cooperation between different centres, scholars, and institutions and develop practical recommendations for policymakers and institutions of high learning in Ukrainian studies.
Find more details about the selected projects here
Download the European Cultural Foundation press release here